Salute the rank
September 22, 2021 7:24 AM Subscribe
New Space Force uniforms draw comparisons to 'Star Trek,' 'Battlestar Galactica' – The Hill, Michael Schnell, 09/21/2021. The Space Force enlisted rank insignia are here, and they look a lot like ‘Star Trek’: 'The Delta, of course, is pure Star Trek and everybody knows it.', Task & Purpose, Jeff Schogol, Sep 21, 2021.
If canon becomes that the United Federation of Planets grows out of the nonsensical ravings of Donald Trump, I will be very angry.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 7:44 AM on September 22, 2021 [42 favorites]
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 7:44 AM on September 22, 2021 [42 favorites]
You can get a better look at the dress uniforms here. Besides all the sci-fi comparisons, I was struck by the fact that the woman's jacket is shorter (for what reason?) and then they gave her men's cut pants.
posted by Miss Cellania at 7:47 AM on September 22, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by Miss Cellania at 7:47 AM on September 22, 2021 [8 favorites]
How silly! Playing dress up to fight space monsters.
posted by mermayd at 7:49 AM on September 22, 2021
posted by mermayd at 7:49 AM on September 22, 2021
How is this entity still in existence? It should have been liquidated in week one of Biden's administration.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 7:52 AM on September 22, 2021 [19 favorites]
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 7:52 AM on September 22, 2021 [19 favorites]
Yeah, I kind-of thought we all agreed this was part of the collective delusions of The Trump Times, and we'd stop pretending it was a real thing.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:54 AM on September 22, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:54 AM on September 22, 2021 [5 favorites]
This administration is not reversing nearly as many of its predecessor's policies as people were led to believe. Quelle surprise.
posted by Apocryphon at 8:05 AM on September 22, 2021 [45 favorites]
posted by Apocryphon at 8:05 AM on September 22, 2021 [45 favorites]
Props to Task & Purpose for going out of the way to get comments on the record from various scifi luminaries. Including Metafilter's own John Scalzi.
Ron Moore sounds dumber though, being quoted against Shatner as a way to discuss whether they should have used Navy ranks. "Moore is more than qualified to speak on this subject considering “Battlestar Galactica” had a strong following among service members".
We're militarizing space in the most adolescent boy fantasy way possible. I suppose it's inevitable and necessary, we already have a lot of military assets staged in orbit. Just sad. I mean Pew Pew Pew! Laser shield!
posted by Nelson at 8:09 AM on September 22, 2021 [5 favorites]
He also noted that the “orbital chevrons” for senior noncommissioned officers are not to scale, adding it would be amusing to see how the Space Force could represent how high those orbits really are – especially the geosynchronous one, which would be 22,236 miles above the Equator in real life.Yes, amusing. Although "highly illogical" is the more Spock way to phrase it. I love ya Mr. Scalzi but this paraphrase is hilarious.
Ron Moore sounds dumber though, being quoted against Shatner as a way to discuss whether they should have used Navy ranks. "Moore is more than qualified to speak on this subject considering “Battlestar Galactica” had a strong following among service members".
We're militarizing space in the most adolescent boy fantasy way possible. I suppose it's inevitable and necessary, we already have a lot of military assets staged in orbit. Just sad. I mean Pew Pew Pew! Laser shield!
posted by Nelson at 8:09 AM on September 22, 2021 [5 favorites]
How is this entity still in existence? It should have been liquidated in week one of Biden's administration.
Too much money to be made at this point. Defense contractors hire hundreds of former senior government officials, military officers, Members of Congress, and senior legislative staff as lobbyists, board members, or senior executives.
posted by jedicus at 8:25 AM on September 22, 2021 [15 favorites]
Too much money to be made at this point. Defense contractors hire hundreds of former senior government officials, military officers, Members of Congress, and senior legislative staff as lobbyists, board members, or senior executives.
posted by jedicus at 8:25 AM on September 22, 2021 [15 favorites]
A couple thoughts here. First of all, the whole US military is basically an indefensible atrocity. Any good that it does is so heavily outweighed by the evil that it is almost impossible to discuss how it might be reformed. That said, the whole multiple services thing (Army, Navy, Air Force, etc) is massively inefficient and wasteful, but when compared with the overall inefficiencies of the military-industrial complex, it's quaint in comparison.
There was, of course, no reason for Trump to create the Space Force, but it's not really a "new" service. It basically carved off the satellite-related functions of the Air Force (including GPS), so it's more of a reorg. That said, if you are going to have something called the Space Force, of course they should have Star Trek lookin-ass uniforms, but can we please get Elim Garak to take a crack at fixing those trousers. Yike.
posted by Rock Steady at 8:26 AM on September 22, 2021 [21 favorites]
There was, of course, no reason for Trump to create the Space Force, but it's not really a "new" service. It basically carved off the satellite-related functions of the Air Force (including GPS), so it's more of a reorg. That said, if you are going to have something called the Space Force, of course they should have Star Trek lookin-ass uniforms, but can we please get Elim Garak to take a crack at fixing those trousers. Yike.
posted by Rock Steady at 8:26 AM on September 22, 2021 [21 favorites]
This administration is not reversing nearly as many of its predecessor's policies as people were led to believe. Quelle surprise.
Leaving aside ideological considerations, a lot of Trump projects have signed/authorized contracts and budgets. The federal government can yank a project in the middle of a project period, but then you piss off the powerful and important people who are getting money/prestige out of it. The government may or may not be able to cancel contracts with vendors but even if they can, there will be financial penalties and you piss off all the powerful and important people etc etc. Plus hiring has been done, facilities have been rented, the whole machinery, if you will, of empire has been set in motion.
It takes a lot less political capital to start a stupid program than to shut one down.
posted by Frowner at 8:26 AM on September 22, 2021 [22 favorites]
Leaving aside ideological considerations, a lot of Trump projects have signed/authorized contracts and budgets. The federal government can yank a project in the middle of a project period, but then you piss off the powerful and important people who are getting money/prestige out of it. The government may or may not be able to cancel contracts with vendors but even if they can, there will be financial penalties and you piss off all the powerful and important people etc etc. Plus hiring has been done, facilities have been rented, the whole machinery, if you will, of empire has been set in motion.
It takes a lot less political capital to start a stupid program than to shut one down.
posted by Frowner at 8:26 AM on September 22, 2021 [22 favorites]
Also, wouldn't you be embarrassed to have to wear that? I'd be embarrassed; it looks like some kind of 19th century comic opera costume.
posted by Frowner at 8:28 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 8:28 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
I feel like it would be impossible to *not* look stupid in any uniform for an organization named Space Force, unless of course you were seven and playing in the backyard.
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:30 AM on September 22, 2021 [10 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:30 AM on September 22, 2021 [10 favorites]
Also, wouldn't you be embarrassed to have to wear that? I'd be embarrassed; it looks like some kind of 19th century comic opera costume.
If my Gundam viewing has taught me anything, it's that space is a 19th century opera.
posted by betweenthebars at 8:34 AM on September 22, 2021 [12 favorites]
If my Gundam viewing has taught me anything, it's that space is a 19th century opera.
posted by betweenthebars at 8:34 AM on September 22, 2021 [12 favorites]
It takes a lot less political capital to start a stupid program than to shut one down.
That explains the entire War on Terror! Speaking of which, that also explains why this is happening- the MIC needs its pound of flesh from somewhere, and since that conflict is winding down, this is the new front to get defense contracts from.
posted by Apocryphon at 8:35 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
That explains the entire War on Terror! Speaking of which, that also explains why this is happening- the MIC needs its pound of flesh from somewhere, and since that conflict is winding down, this is the new front to get defense contracts from.
posted by Apocryphon at 8:35 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
We're militarizing space in the most adolescent boy fantasy way possible.
…and the girls: U.S. Space Force: Make History :30 Commercial (YT).
posted by cenoxo at 8:41 AM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
…and the girls: U.S. Space Force: Make History :30 Commercial (YT).
posted by cenoxo at 8:41 AM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
'The Delta, of course, is pure Star Trek and everybody knows it.'A recognizable version of the Delta appears both on the original NASA logos going back to 1959 and the Apollo insignia dating back to the early 1960s, both of which predate the 1966 premier of Star Trek.
NBC almost certainly made an homage to NASA with their Star Trek logo.
posted by Hatashran at 8:48 AM on September 22, 2021 [16 favorites]
Just license the Starfleet uniforms from Paramount (or whoever) and be done with it.
Or the Earth Alliance uniforms from B5 (which seem like they may have been referenced a bit).
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:59 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
Or the Earth Alliance uniforms from B5 (which seem like they may have been referenced a bit).
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:59 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
Maybe Netflix is covertly subsidizing the Space Force as cross-promotion for their comedy series
posted by Apocryphon at 9:01 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Apocryphon at 9:01 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
Yeah, this is really not Space Force aping Star Trek/BSG as much as it is military sci-fi aping actual, real life military uniforms and then it coming full circle. I clicked the link expecting to see garish TOS/TNG jumpsuits and got...Air Force uniforms with some tweaks.
posted by AndrewInDC at 9:03 AM on September 22, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by AndrewInDC at 9:03 AM on September 22, 2021 [8 favorites]
Screw it! If you're going to go all Battlestar Galactica, go old school Battlestar Galactica. Nemes-inspired Pharaonic helmets! Giant gold buckles! Tektronix hardware everywhere. Go ahead and give a fursuited Boston Dynamics bot to every kid who loses their dog to enemy action. Enough lame half measures! Just, like, do it already, okay?
posted by phooky at 9:06 AM on September 22, 2021 [16 favorites]
posted by phooky at 9:06 AM on September 22, 2021 [16 favorites]
Maybe Netflix is covertly subsidizing the Space Force as cross-promotion for their comedy series
Welcome to my pitch for Black Mirror Series 6.
posted by Rock Steady at 9:14 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
Welcome to my pitch for Black Mirror Series 6.
posted by Rock Steady at 9:14 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
If canon becomes that the United Federation of Planets grows out of the nonsensical ravings of Donald Trump, I will be very angry.
No, it won't. Star Trek: Enterprise, for all of its faults (and there were a bunch), as well as references to the later twenty-first century in other iterations of the franchise, made it very clear that that sort of evil was one of the things holding Earth back for a while. In fact, in the last few episodes of ENT, there was a guy running a fascist terrorist organization named Terra Prime that may as well have had its proponents wearing MEGA hats.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:16 AM on September 22, 2021 [4 favorites]
No, it won't. Star Trek: Enterprise, for all of its faults (and there were a bunch), as well as references to the later twenty-first century in other iterations of the franchise, made it very clear that that sort of evil was one of the things holding Earth back for a while. In fact, in the last few episodes of ENT, there was a guy running a fascist terrorist organization named Terra Prime that may as well have had its proponents wearing MEGA hats.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:16 AM on September 22, 2021 [4 favorites]
Welcome to my pitch for Black Mirror Series 6.
USS Callister 2.0
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:17 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
USS Callister 2.0
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:17 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
The way it was explained to me is that Space Force amounts to a budget-leveling exercise. To wit: the air force was already doing a ton of space-related things and starting to overshadow the other branches considerably in terms of funding dollars. The answer was to break off the space stuff and created a new branch, which puts everyone on a more even playing field for appropriations.
Bonkers, yes, but not entirely implausible.
posted by jquinby at 9:22 AM on September 22, 2021 [14 favorites]
Bonkers, yes, but not entirely implausible.
posted by jquinby at 9:22 AM on September 22, 2021 [14 favorites]
…and the girls: U.S. Space Force: Make History :30 Commercial yt (YT).
You know, it has been stupid for quite some time for camo to be the everyday military uniform of choice for anyone not in a jungle. But something about camo in conjunction with OUTER SPACE just highlights that stupidity for me.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 9:23 AM on September 22, 2021 [7 favorites]
You know, it has been stupid for quite some time for camo to be the everyday military uniform of choice for anyone not in a jungle. But something about camo in conjunction with OUTER SPACE just highlights that stupidity for me.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 9:23 AM on September 22, 2021 [7 favorites]
This administration is not reversing nearly as many of its predecessor's policies as people were led to believe.
Like other countries, the United States has interests that supersede Presidents and party politics. For over 70 years, U.S. interests have included space exploration (and dominance) as portrayed and promoted in mass media. More in ”Space, the Final Frontier”—Star Trek and the National Space Rhetoric, The Standard, Glen Swanson, Feb 28, 2021.
posted by cenoxo at 9:26 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
Like other countries, the United States has interests that supersede Presidents and party politics. For over 70 years, U.S. interests have included space exploration (and dominance) as portrayed and promoted in mass media. More in ”Space, the Final Frontier”—Star Trek and the National Space Rhetoric, The Standard, Glen Swanson, Feb 28, 2021.
posted by cenoxo at 9:26 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
That uniform absolutely screams for a Shako hat
posted by briank at 9:38 AM on September 22, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by briank at 9:38 AM on September 22, 2021 [6 favorites]
…it looks like some kind of 19th century comic opera costume.
The winner in this category remains the uniforms for Richard Nixon’s White House Palace Guard.
posted by cenoxo at 9:53 AM on September 22, 2021 [9 favorites]
The winner in this category remains the uniforms for Richard Nixon’s White House Palace Guard.
posted by cenoxo at 9:53 AM on September 22, 2021 [9 favorites]
They should have reached back into history and stolen from the Gil Gerard / Erin Gray _Buck Rogers_ instead of stopping in the early 00's with RDM Galactica.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 9:54 AM on September 22, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 9:54 AM on September 22, 2021 [4 favorites]
(I mean, even I recognize that reaching back to UFO would have been asking too much of this fallen world)
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 9:55 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 9:55 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
hot takes may arise about the slogan.
for my part, i will say only, "semper supra"? my goal, too.
*dons shades; sparks spliff; drives off, hotboxing toyota sports car*
posted by 20 year lurk at 9:58 AM on September 22, 2021
for my part, i will say only, "semper supra"? my goal, too.
*dons shades; sparks spliff; drives off, hotboxing toyota sports car*
posted by 20 year lurk at 9:58 AM on September 22, 2021
GCU, UFO might be a stretch but I would have been absolutely delighted if they'd just gone with Space: 1999.
posted by phooky at 10:12 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by phooky at 10:12 AM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
I feel like we're awfully far down in the comments for me to be pointing out the top enlisted rank (NCO) thus far is 'Chief Master Sergeant'. Is there a dress uniform in Halo that this is also modeled after, or are we just stealing ranks and titles?
Thank god they went with blue - that will make Steve Carrell's job a lot simpler.
posted by Nanukthedog at 10:13 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
Thank god they went with blue - that will make Steve Carrell's job a lot simpler.
posted by Nanukthedog at 10:13 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
A recognizable version of the Delta appears both on the original NASA logos going back to 1959 and the Apollo insignia dating back to the early 1960s, both of which predate the 1966 premier of Star Trek.
Yup, the NASA insignia has had the chevron/delta/wing element since the original 1959 version. There's a Delta on the original 1st Space Operations Squadron patch. The 1960s NASA astronaut pin may have inspired the Starfleet insignia. Fiction copies reality, which copies it right back - design is a big ol' dragon, eating its tail.
posted by zamboni at 10:17 AM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
Yup, the NASA insignia has had the chevron/delta/wing element since the original 1959 version. There's a Delta on the original 1st Space Operations Squadron patch. The 1960s NASA astronaut pin may have inspired the Starfleet insignia. Fiction copies reality, which copies it right back - design is a big ol' dragon, eating its tail.
posted by zamboni at 10:17 AM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
If you're gonna fight Cylons, you may as well look the part.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 10:31 AM on September 22, 2021
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 10:31 AM on September 22, 2021
Just license the Starfleet uniforms from Paramount (or whoever) and be done with it.
Yeessss. Then we could have skirts for everyone.
posted by Mitheral at 10:31 AM on September 22, 2021 [4 favorites]
Yeessss. Then we could have skirts for everyone.
posted by Mitheral at 10:31 AM on September 22, 2021 [4 favorites]
I will immediately and unabashedly flip my opinion of this whole dumb thing if the skant is brought in.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:38 AM on September 22, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:38 AM on September 22, 2021 [6 favorites]
The row of giant silver Mickey Mouse buttons on the right side of the uniform is a joke, right? The real uniform won't have that?
To be fair and maybe it's just my leftism or whatever but TBH all military uniforms look kinda silly to me, so really the Space Force thing isn't that much worse than any of the other comic opera costumery crap we deck out soldiers in.
I will say that I fully acknowledge that my hatred of Space Force is deeply irrational. It's not, actually, a terrible concept to have a branch of the military focused on orbital issues.
But JFC it was started by Trump in a fucking tweet not even by a proper Congressional bill and all that stuff. I'm not a process obsessive type but it seems deeply wrong to let an actual branch of the military get started by a drunken tweet.
posted by sotonohito at 10:44 AM on September 22, 2021 [6 favorites]
To be fair and maybe it's just my leftism or whatever but TBH all military uniforms look kinda silly to me, so really the Space Force thing isn't that much worse than any of the other comic opera costumery crap we deck out soldiers in.
I will say that I fully acknowledge that my hatred of Space Force is deeply irrational. It's not, actually, a terrible concept to have a branch of the military focused on orbital issues.
But JFC it was started by Trump in a fucking tweet not even by a proper Congressional bill and all that stuff. I'm not a process obsessive type but it seems deeply wrong to let an actual branch of the military get started by a drunken tweet.
posted by sotonohito at 10:44 AM on September 22, 2021 [6 favorites]
Also? Yes, NASA may have started the delta, but let's be honest here: Star Trek owns it now and you can't design a "Space Force" uniform incorporating one without the Star Trek comparison being inevitable.
posted by sotonohito at 10:44 AM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by sotonohito at 10:44 AM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
We don't have healthcare, but we do have this.
Every day that Biden doesn't abolish Trump's space force is a crime against everyone who goes unhoused, unclothed, and unfed in this country.
posted by AlSweigart at 11:02 AM on September 22, 2021 [5 favorites]
Every day that Biden doesn't abolish Trump's space force is a crime against everyone who goes unhoused, unclothed, and unfed in this country.
posted by AlSweigart at 11:02 AM on September 22, 2021 [5 favorites]
I feel like we're awfully far down in the comments for me to be pointing out the top enlisted rank (NCO) thus far is 'Chief Master Sergeant'. Is there a dress uniform in Halo that this is also modeled after, or are we just stealing ranks and titles?
Chief Master Sergeant has been a rank in the US Air Force since 1958.
posted by AndrewInDC at 11:18 AM on September 22, 2021 [8 favorites]
Chief Master Sergeant has been a rank in the US Air Force since 1958.
posted by AndrewInDC at 11:18 AM on September 22, 2021 [8 favorites]
Generals need commands. Needing to create a whole new branch for them, when the navy is literally the experts in how to operate fleets of ships, is a sure sign the military has way too much brass.
posted by mikelieman at 11:23 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by mikelieman at 11:23 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
Yes, but now it is Chief Master Sergeant in Space!
posted by Nanukthedog at 11:35 AM on September 22, 2021
posted by Nanukthedog at 11:35 AM on September 22, 2021
We don't have healthcare, but we do have this.
Congressional Democrats agreed to fund Space Force in exchange for parental leave for most federal workers. So there's that.
posted by ropeladder at 11:41 AM on September 22, 2021 [12 favorites]
Congressional Democrats agreed to fund Space Force in exchange for parental leave for most federal workers. So there's that.
posted by ropeladder at 11:41 AM on September 22, 2021 [12 favorites]
Task & Purpose also insists that the new uniforms look like Star Wars.
I'm starting to get the impression that the possibilities for combining a jacket, trousers, and earth tones are simply limited.
posted by AndrewInDC at 11:55 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
I'm starting to get the impression that the possibilities for combining a jacket, trousers, and earth tones are simply limited.
posted by AndrewInDC at 11:55 AM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
I'm still miffed they went with 'Guardians' and rejected my original suggestion of 'Void Walkers'.
posted by PenDevil at 12:14 PM on September 22, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 12:14 PM on September 22, 2021 [5 favorites]
Yeessss. Then we could have skirts for everyone.
Picard en skant
posted by snuffleupagus at 12:23 PM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
Picard en skant
posted by snuffleupagus at 12:23 PM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
Richard Nixon’s White House Palace Guard
I’d heard about these but not not their ultimate disposition:
I’d heard about these but not not their ultimate disposition:
However, the uniforms weren't thrown out. They sat in storage for a decade, and in 1980 they were sold to the Meriden-Cleghorn High School Marching Band in Iowa.posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:40 PM on September 22, 2021 [13 favorites]
pretty fancy for dudes who mostly sit in dingy beige cube farms watching fox. occasionally, they make an excel spreadsheet or powerpoint.
(i was an onsite contractor at usaf space command for a few years.)
posted by j_curiouser at 1:34 PM on September 22, 2021 [7 favorites]
(i was an onsite contractor at usaf space command for a few years.)
posted by j_curiouser at 1:34 PM on September 22, 2021 [7 favorites]
...and what are the chances that cross-boob line of buttons is gonna line up with one exactly on the nipple?
posted by Clowder of bats at 1:34 PM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Clowder of bats at 1:34 PM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
gonna be tricky to confirm that bet but i'll take it
posted by rifflesby at 1:37 PM on September 22, 2021
posted by rifflesby at 1:37 PM on September 22, 2021
How is this entity still in existence? It should have been liquidated in week one of Biden's administration.
I think pretty much all of everything that happens in the world these days is bottomlessly dumb, but, with actual sociopaths like Bezos, Musk, et al. launching shit into space and pretending they are going to colonize Mars, I think it's appropriate for the United States to have something paid for out of the public purse that normal citizens can hypothetically commandeer in order to nuke Elon Prime from orbit.
posted by turbid dahlia at 2:40 PM on September 22, 2021
I think pretty much all of everything that happens in the world these days is bottomlessly dumb, but, with actual sociopaths like Bezos, Musk, et al. launching shit into space and pretending they are going to colonize Mars, I think it's appropriate for the United States to have something paid for out of the public purse that normal citizens can hypothetically commandeer in order to nuke Elon Prime from orbit.
posted by turbid dahlia at 2:40 PM on September 22, 2021
How is this entity still in existence? It should have been liquidated in week one of Biden's administration.
And risk the next admin doing the same?
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 2:51 PM on September 22, 2021
And risk the next admin doing the same?
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 2:51 PM on September 22, 2021
If they went with Star Trek uniforms, then how would someone issued a red uniform feel? Especially if they were new to the group…
posted by njohnson23 at 3:11 PM on September 22, 2021
posted by njohnson23 at 3:11 PM on September 22, 2021
The whole uniform thing just a distraction, set up by the PR wing of whoever got the construction contract for adding a 6th side to the Pentagon.
Or maybe the Air and Space Forces combine under the Sky Force. And the Navy and Coast Guard as the Water Force. Army & Marines, Ground Force. "News from The Triangle today, as cost overruns on the X-21 blahblahblah...".
[Alternatively, '...Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked...']
The ridiculing caption I haven't seen for the new uniform photos (yet):
Become a Sky Marshall Today!
Service! Guarantees! Citizenship!
posted by bartleby at 3:24 PM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
Or maybe the Air and Space Forces combine under the Sky Force. And the Navy and Coast Guard as the Water Force. Army & Marines, Ground Force. "News from The Triangle today, as cost overruns on the X-21 blahblahblah...".
[Alternatively, '...Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked...']
The ridiculing caption I haven't seen for the new uniform photos (yet):
Become a Sky Marshall Today!
Service! Guarantees! Citizenship!
posted by bartleby at 3:24 PM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
The Space Force was created by an act of Congress. The Biden administration can't just...undo that.
posted by General Malaise at 3:52 PM on September 22, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by General Malaise at 3:52 PM on September 22, 2021 [7 favorites]
You can get a better look at the dress uniforms here. Besides all the sci-fi comparisons, I was struck by the fact that the woman's jacket is shorter (for what reason?) and then they gave her men's cut pants.
posted by Miss Cellania at 7:47 AM on September 22
Oh my. Those women's pants are truly an embarrassment to not only the person wearing them but to the seamstress who have to sew them. They are truly an abomination. The designer needs to be dumped into the space brig (or maybe forced out the airlock).
posted by sardonyx at 6:01 PM on September 22, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Miss Cellania at 7:47 AM on September 22
Oh my. Those women's pants are truly an embarrassment to not only the person wearing them but to the seamstress who have to sew them. They are truly an abomination. The designer needs to be dumped into the space brig (or maybe forced out the airlock).
posted by sardonyx at 6:01 PM on September 22, 2021 [4 favorites]
But something about camo in conjunction with OUTER SPACE just highlights that stupidity for me.
Make it really space camo. Space black on front, earth blue and green on the back.
posted by otherchaz at 7:06 PM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
Make it really space camo. Space black on front, earth blue and green on the back.
posted by otherchaz at 7:06 PM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
How silly! Playing dress up to fight space monsters.
We don't have healthcare, but we do have this.
Hear me out, with fake evidence, we get Congress to declare the pandemic a war against space aliens. Once it starts, mission creep will set in, and then the war expands to cancer, to diabetes, and so on and so on.
posted by otherchaz at 7:16 PM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
We don't have healthcare, but we do have this.
Hear me out, with fake evidence, we get Congress to declare the pandemic a war against space aliens. Once it starts, mission creep will set in, and then the war expands to cancer, to diabetes, and so on and so on.
posted by otherchaz at 7:16 PM on September 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
Will the members of Congress who voted to create The United Space Force please stand up?
Good. Now get out. Out!
posted by mule98J at 7:40 PM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
Good. Now get out. Out!
posted by mule98J at 7:40 PM on September 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
who gets five pips?
THERE! ARE! FOUR! PIPS!
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:40 PM on September 22, 2021 [11 favorites]
THERE! ARE! FOUR! PIPS!
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:40 PM on September 22, 2021 [11 favorites]
Here is an effort to make the Space Force go away, should anyone wish to lend their support.
Today [Sep 22, 2021], Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) introduced the No Militarization of Space Act to abolish the costly and unnecessary Space Force
“The long-standing neutrality of space has fostered a competitive, non-militarized age of exploration every nation and generation has valued since the first days of space travel. But since its creation under the former Trump administration, the Space Force has threatened longstanding peace and flagrantly wasted billions of taxpayer dollars,” said Rep. Huffman. “It’s time we turn our attention back to where it belongs: addressing urgent domestic and international priorities like battling COVID-19, climate change, and growing economic inequality. Our mission must be to support the American people, not spend billions on the militarization of space.”
posted by to wound the autumnal city at 8:02 PM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
Today [Sep 22, 2021], Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) introduced the No Militarization of Space Act to abolish the costly and unnecessary Space Force
“The long-standing neutrality of space has fostered a competitive, non-militarized age of exploration every nation and generation has valued since the first days of space travel. But since its creation under the former Trump administration, the Space Force has threatened longstanding peace and flagrantly wasted billions of taxpayer dollars,” said Rep. Huffman. “It’s time we turn our attention back to where it belongs: addressing urgent domestic and international priorities like battling COVID-19, climate change, and growing economic inequality. Our mission must be to support the American people, not spend billions on the militarization of space.”
posted by to wound the autumnal city at 8:02 PM on September 22, 2021 [3 favorites]
Make it really space camo. Space black on front, earth blue and green on the back.
No, make it that really lurid and trippy nebula/galaxy/starfield print you often see on stuff like cheap hoodies or spandex leggings and bodysuits.
Then throw a space rave.
posted by loquacious at 10:35 PM on September 22, 2021 [8 favorites]
No, make it that really lurid and trippy nebula/galaxy/starfield print you often see on stuff like cheap hoodies or spandex leggings and bodysuits.
Then throw a space rave.
posted by loquacious at 10:35 PM on September 22, 2021 [8 favorites]
Yes, Space Force feels nonsensical. Yes, it was largely pushed ahead by a vacuous man who gave vacuous reasons. Yes, the name is vacuous and the uniforms are unintentionally hilarious. But, as rocksteady pointed out, nearly all of what they do already existed (satellite/GPS stuff). They're not building laser guns or battlestars.
And, as jquinby pointed out, it was also very much a way to fend off interservice competition for funding. During the nuclear weapons rampup for example, part of the reason we blew such an obscene amount of money and had such wild overkill/escalation was that multiple branches of the military were competing with each other.
Segmenting out this work into a new branch makes it so that taxpayers don't end up paying for the same stuff multiple times. Not just the GPS and satellite stuff, but also speculative programs--which the military is required to do--that research "what if" scenarios related to defense from stuff like asteroids, comets, and yeah, aliens. Even if you think all of that is ridiculous, it's better to do that once in Space Force, than two to four times across other branches of the military.
It's less like we have a new Air Force aimed at stopping xenomorphs and predators than it is a tiny, tiny new Coast Guard in charge of satellites and GPS so that asshole pork barrel senators don't write checks for that to every branch of the service to make sure their states are getting a piece.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:25 AM on September 23, 2021 [9 favorites]
And, as jquinby pointed out, it was also very much a way to fend off interservice competition for funding. During the nuclear weapons rampup for example, part of the reason we blew such an obscene amount of money and had such wild overkill/escalation was that multiple branches of the military were competing with each other.
Segmenting out this work into a new branch makes it so that taxpayers don't end up paying for the same stuff multiple times. Not just the GPS and satellite stuff, but also speculative programs--which the military is required to do--that research "what if" scenarios related to defense from stuff like asteroids, comets, and yeah, aliens. Even if you think all of that is ridiculous, it's better to do that once in Space Force, than two to four times across other branches of the military.
It's less like we have a new Air Force aimed at stopping xenomorphs and predators than it is a tiny, tiny new Coast Guard in charge of satellites and GPS so that asshole pork barrel senators don't write checks for that to every branch of the service to make sure their states are getting a piece.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:25 AM on September 23, 2021 [9 favorites]
TL;DR: let's say you had a plan to control spending on satellite/GPS/space-related contingency planning, which is both totally reasonable and desperately boring. How do you get a tapioca-brained man baby to get excited enough to sign off? You call it Space Force and you make it sound like a sci-fi movie.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:36 AM on September 23, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:36 AM on September 23, 2021 [8 favorites]
It occurs to me that Space Force is mostly (entirely?) on earth. It's even more Chair Force than the Air Force. They're sysadmins, programmers and paper pushers. Want camo? Just give them black jeans, polartec vests and grey cold-war style field jackets. They'll blend into the contractors.
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:54 AM on September 23, 2021 [9 favorites]
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:54 AM on September 23, 2021 [9 favorites]
No, make it that really lurid and trippy nebula/galaxy/starfield print you often see on stuff like cheap hoodies or spandex leggings and bodysuits.
You want them to be wearing... SPACE PANTS!?
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 5:59 AM on September 23, 2021 [3 favorites]
You want them to be wearing... SPACE PANTS!?
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 5:59 AM on September 23, 2021 [3 favorites]
Do you want Klingons? Because this is how you get Klingons!
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 10:16 AM on September 23, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 10:16 AM on September 23, 2021 [4 favorites]
You want them to be wearing... SPACE PANTS!?
WHEN I SAY "SPACE" YOU SAY "PANTS"
posted by otherchaz at 10:36 AM on September 23, 2021 [2 favorites]
WHEN I SAY "SPACE" YOU SAY "PANTS"
posted by otherchaz at 10:36 AM on September 23, 2021 [2 favorites]
I'm surprised that this is the thread that pushed me over the edge into believing that "don't read the comments" applies to Metafilter too. But, well, it is.
Aside from the regrettable name, I would expect the average MeFite to be very much in favor of the formation of the Space Force as a step in the right direction. Instead, we have a thread dominated by comments pillorying Biden for not dissolving it?
As I understand it, this is a way for Congress to actually force the military to spend money on the boring but important bits. As others have pointed out, the Space Force is in charge of GPS among other things, which is integral to my daily life (and absolutely core infrastructure for the entire economy). I'm quite happy that that budget has been removed from the control of the fighter jocks who run the Air Force and would rather spend it on a next generation plane!
posted by Metasyntactic at 7:43 PM on September 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
Aside from the regrettable name, I would expect the average MeFite to be very much in favor of the formation of the Space Force as a step in the right direction. Instead, we have a thread dominated by comments pillorying Biden for not dissolving it?
As I understand it, this is a way for Congress to actually force the military to spend money on the boring but important bits. As others have pointed out, the Space Force is in charge of GPS among other things, which is integral to my daily life (and absolutely core infrastructure for the entire economy). I'm quite happy that that budget has been removed from the control of the fighter jocks who run the Air Force and would rather spend it on a next generation plane!
posted by Metasyntactic at 7:43 PM on September 23, 2021 [1 favorite]
As I understand it, this is a way for Congress to actually force the military to spend money on the boring but important bits. As others have pointed out, the Space Force is in charge of GPS among other things, which is integral to my daily life (and absolutely core infrastructure for the entire economy).
Oh, and just a little NRO and NSA intelligence, electronic and cyber warfare and very likely accelerating the militarization of space, potentially leading to either a hot or cold war and a new theater and front to spend money on. It's not like about 1/5th of the satellites overhead aren't already military or something.
Sure, GPS is cool and incredibly useful and everything but unfortunately it's definitely a by product of decades of militarization of space, and the public isn't really even getting the good stuff.
I'm honestly kind of surprised there hasn't been a notable, publicly acknowledged and reported event of aggression yet. Something on the scale of involving shooting down one or more satellites. There are some substantiated rumors about electronic satellite warfare. There's some other rumors even about capturing and stealing satellites. And there are documented events like these Russian satellites trailing and shadowing a US spy satellite.
And if superpowers start shooting down other satellites or engaging in a hot war in space it directly threatens, well, everything else we do in space for the public good, like weather and science missions, communications and GPS with the very real potential for kickstarting a Kessler syndrome event.
I don't think that the Space Force and creating yet another branch of the Armed Forces with it's own budget is really the way to control or reduce military spending nor to peacefully make use of space for all humankind.
But hey, snappy uniforms. Those will look great in an office or down at the dingy Officer's Club doing some Space Shooters and chowing on some Space Wings.
posted by loquacious at 10:25 PM on September 23, 2021 [2 favorites]
Oh, and just a little NRO and NSA intelligence, electronic and cyber warfare and very likely accelerating the militarization of space, potentially leading to either a hot or cold war and a new theater and front to spend money on. It's not like about 1/5th of the satellites overhead aren't already military or something.
Sure, GPS is cool and incredibly useful and everything but unfortunately it's definitely a by product of decades of militarization of space, and the public isn't really even getting the good stuff.
I'm honestly kind of surprised there hasn't been a notable, publicly acknowledged and reported event of aggression yet. Something on the scale of involving shooting down one or more satellites. There are some substantiated rumors about electronic satellite warfare. There's some other rumors even about capturing and stealing satellites. And there are documented events like these Russian satellites trailing and shadowing a US spy satellite.
And if superpowers start shooting down other satellites or engaging in a hot war in space it directly threatens, well, everything else we do in space for the public good, like weather and science missions, communications and GPS with the very real potential for kickstarting a Kessler syndrome event.
I don't think that the Space Force and creating yet another branch of the Armed Forces with it's own budget is really the way to control or reduce military spending nor to peacefully make use of space for all humankind.
But hey, snappy uniforms. Those will look great in an office or down at the dingy Officer's Club doing some Space Shooters and chowing on some Space Wings.
posted by loquacious at 10:25 PM on September 23, 2021 [2 favorites]
the Space Force is in charge of GPS among other things
Pretty sure NASA could have taken this stuff up if asked. National agency, aeronautics and space, checks out. Been a while, but I think maybe they used to launch satellites and stuff.
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:01 AM on September 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
Pretty sure NASA could have taken this stuff up if asked. National agency, aeronautics and space, checks out. Been a while, but I think maybe they used to launch satellites and stuff.
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:01 AM on September 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
the Space Force is in charge of GPS among other things
Depends on what you mean by
posted by zamboni at 6:31 AM on September 24, 2021
Depends on what you mean by
in charge of. The National Executive Committee for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing has a certain amount to do with it.
posted by zamboni at 6:31 AM on September 24, 2021
Members:
Department of Defense (co-chair)
Department of Transportation (co-chair)
State Department
Department of the Interior
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce (this is where NIST lives)
Department of Homeland Security
Joint Chiefs of Staff
NASA
So adding Space Force will change nothing there, being a component of DoD, unless they get their own new seat.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:44 AM on September 24, 2021
Department of Defense (co-chair)
Department of Transportation (co-chair)
State Department
Department of the Interior
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce (this is where NIST lives)
Department of Homeland Security
Joint Chiefs of Staff
NASA
So adding Space Force will change nothing there, being a component of DoD, unless they get their own new seat.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:44 AM on September 24, 2021
To be clear, the Executive Committee advises and coordinates among relevant federal agencies, while DoD actually operates the system itself.
posted by zamboni at 6:59 AM on September 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by zamboni at 6:59 AM on September 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
Whatever uniforms are finally approved, here’s what is officially expected of USSF personnel (the “Guardians”) wearing them:
posted by cenoxo at 7:07 AM on September 24, 2021
• CSO unveils Guardian Ideal, Space Force values at AFA, United Space Force News, September 21, 2021:The militarization of space continues, and the USSF mission is expanding – note the articles in ‘Search Results for Space Force’ at SpaceNews.
Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond Chief of Space Operations unveiled the Guardian Ideal and Space Force values during his speech Sept. 20, 2021, at the Air Force Association Air, Space, and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. The Guardian Ideal [PDF file] is the Space Force’s foundational document outlining the service’s boundary-pushing, innovative approach to talent management, from accession to development, and it combines aspirations with actions and milestones….
• CMSSF details path forward for developing the force, United States Space Force News, September 23, 2021:
Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force Roger A. Towberman took the stage at the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference here Sept. 21, to share his vision for the future of Guardian development. Towberman focused on the five objectives outlined in the Space Force’s human capital management plan, termed the “Guardian Ideal,” released earlier in the day [PDF file].
The Guardian Ideal is the Space Force’s foundational document, outlining the service’s boundary-pushing, innovative approach to talent management. … The five objectives described in the Ideal are Connect in a Collaborative Environment, Lead Digital Enablement, Generate and Engage Talent, Develop and Employ Talent, and Integrate Resiliency….
posted by cenoxo at 7:07 AM on September 24, 2021
Like the U.S. Space Force `Make History’ recruiting video (YT) mentioned previously, a woman is prominently featured on The Guardian Ideal cover (PDF).
posted by cenoxo at 8:47 AM on September 24, 2021
posted by cenoxo at 8:47 AM on September 24, 2021
It would probably be justifiable to have a cyber warfare armed services branch as well.
Imagine their uniforms - mirror shades mandatory of course.
posted by thatwhichfalls at 10:08 PM on September 24, 2021
Imagine their uniforms - mirror shades mandatory of course.
posted by thatwhichfalls at 10:08 PM on September 24, 2021
Imagine their uniforms - mirror shades mandatory of course.
And the color of a TV tuned to a dead channel.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:57 AM on October 4, 2021
And the color of a TV tuned to a dead channel.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:57 AM on October 4, 2021
It would probably be justifiable to have a cyber warfare armed services branch as well.
US Cyber Command [cybercom.mil], one of the unified combatant commands post "RMA" and under 'jointness' etc.
Co-located with NSA at Ft. Meade.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:17 AM on October 5, 2021
US Cyber Command [cybercom.mil], one of the unified combatant commands post "RMA" and under 'jointness' etc.
Co-located with NSA at Ft. Meade.
posted by snuffleupagus at 9:17 AM on October 5, 2021
SPACEPOWER – Doctrine for Space Forces [PDF], Space Capstone Publication, Headquarters United States Space Force, June 2020 (Dedicated to past, present, and future spacepower pioneers.):
Speaking of capstones, remember Total Information Awareness?
posted by cenoxo at 9:03 AM on October 20, 2021
FOREWORD FROM THE CSOImmediately following the Foreword, the Preface – The Spirit of Orbital Flight and Military Spacepower – Guiding Principles are enlightening. This is not a drill or training exercise, it’s an occupation.
The inaugural Space Capstone Publication, Spacepower (SCP) is capstone doctrine for the United States Space Force and represents our Service’s first articulation of an independent theory of spacepower. This publication answers why spacepower is vital for our Nation, how military spacepower is employed, who military space forces are, and what military space forces value.
In short, this capstone document is the foundation of our professional body of knowledge as we forge an independent military Service committed to space operations. Like all doctrine, the SCP remains subject to the policies and strategies that govern its employment. Military spacepower has deterrent and coercive capacities — it provides independent options for National and Joint leadership but achieves its greatest potential when integrated with other forms of military power. As we grow spacepower theory and doctrine, we must do so in a way that fosters greater integration with the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. It is only by achieving true integration and interdependence that we can hope to unlock spacepower’s full potential.
Agility, innovation, and boldness have always been the touchstone traits of military space forces. Today, we must harness these traits to pioneer a new Service and a new professional body of knowledge. This capstone doctrine is a point-of-departure toward that goal, not a final adjudication. Given the nascent state of spacepower theory, this publication will inevitably evolve over time as it is applied, evaluated, and refined. Therefore, military space forces are encouraged to read, critique, debate, and improve upon the ideas that follow.
It is an honor to serve with you on this journey.
JOHN W. RAYMOND
General, USSF
Chief of Space Operations
Speaking of capstones, remember Total Information Awareness?
posted by cenoxo at 9:03 AM on October 20, 2021
“A Space Marine’s armor is bright with heraldry that proclaims his devotion to his Chapter and the beloved Emperor of Mankind. Our principle is that what the enemy can see, he will soon learn to fear…”
― Chaplain Aston, 'Codex: Space Marines'.
posted by thatwhichfalls at 9:29 AM on October 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
― Chaplain Aston, 'Codex: Space Marines'.
posted by thatwhichfalls at 9:29 AM on October 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
In Where are the space arks?, Tom Stevenson, London Review of Books, Vol. 43 No. 5, 4 March 2021 reviews War in Space by Bleddyn Bowen and Dark Skies: Space Expansionism, Planetary Geopolitics and the Ends of Humanity by Daniel Deudney. Stevenson also comments at length about the US Space Force, including:
In space, no one can hear sabers rattle.
posted by cenoxo at 9:51 AM on October 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
In December 2019, the US space force was established as the sixth branch of the US armed forces. Though founded by the Trump administration, the space force was not a Trump invention. Its precursor, Air Force Space Command, was set up in 1982. In 2001, a commission chaired by Donald Rumsfeld concluded that it was being neglected, and recommended setting up a separate ‘military department for space’, something that has remained a goal of American generals ever since.More in the review.
But even some military space enthusiasts thought the 2019 announcement was premature. For the first four months of its existence the space force had an official staff of two: thousands of its personnel were technically still working for the air force. It has since added more than eighty Air Force Academy lieutenants, and plans to have a permanent staff of 16,000 within a few years. The old air force wings – a wing is a unit incorporating a number of squadrons – have been reorganised into space deltas and garrisons, which have attracted plenty of bored volunteers from the terrestrial military branches. In part, this is an organisational drive, designed to bring US government space organisations under one roof.
But the space force has a planned annual budget of $15.4 billion (and an official motto – ‘Semper Supra’). It’s not yet clear what equipment it will have at its disposal. It will operate systems that can jam communications satellites, and there is much speculation about new tests of the Boeing X-37 robotic spacecraft. When asked about this, the second in command of the space force, David Thompson, said: ‘We don’t need to tell the world everything we’re doing.’ The US hasn’t yet made what aerospace analysts call the transition from ‘space operators to space warfighters’. But the vice chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, John E. Hyten, has described space war as ‘inevitable’….
In space, no one can hear sabers rattle.
posted by cenoxo at 9:51 AM on October 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
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